The Hockey News top 50 Players

[Eazy_b97 1]

I believe he was the latest D to win the hart trophy.

[Gongshow11 1]

you cant say that mario chissled points, ever, the guy worked for what is rightfully his, a spot in hhof next to gretz

[Chadd 916]

you cant say that mario chissled points, ever, the guy worked for what is rightfully his, a spot in hhof next to gretz

I didn't say it was him who was doing it but I was in the rink when it happened. That is a fact.

[Kovy_Ribs_Fedo 3]

For some reason that reminds me of some of the games I've seen in Pittsburgh. One night, Mario left the ice shortly before the end of the period and the Pens score 30 seconds later. During the intermission there was a ascoring change and Mario was given an assist. Another night he was on the bench and the fourth line guys scored, two minutes later an assist was added for number 66. They guy was fantastic in his prime but I know for a fact that they inflate his numbers.

just like crosby in the Q...Sometimes he was not even on the ice and he had an assist.

[DarkStar50 679]

Screw the points!! Can 66 and 87 play the game? YES!!!!!!!!

Is Mario Top 5 all-time? Yes!!!!!!!!

[Chadd 916]

Screw the points!! Can 66 and 87 play the game? YES!!!!!!!!

Is Mario Top 5 all-time? Yes!!!!!!!!

Mario had all the tools to be #1 all time but never put in the work to get there.

[DarkStar50 679]

And that is why I will never respect him.  He is also lucky the 87 Canada cup happened because that is when Gretzky pulled him aside and tried to teach him some class and his obligation to the sport. He also taught Mario the payoffs of practicing.  Mario couldn't believe how Gretzky would stay on the ice after practice and what not.

So, Theo, I guess you have no respect for Mickey Mantle, also. Another natural talent who didn't give it everything he could?

Mario was about 21 when Canada Cup 87 happened, still a pretty young kid. Following that experience he did ratchet it up to another level. The Cup years were ahead of him. If you weren't on the ice or watching him practice, don't say he didn't work at his game. That is simply a statement you cannot back up.

[mack 44]

Maybe Mario should have played drunk like Mantle.

[rrajz 0]

Kovalchuk number 10?... are they kidding? He owns iginla...

that one of the worst comment i heard yet, Iggy caried his team to the finals and kova is not even the best player on his team...

wtf are u talking about ? I'm sure that Kovy ( if he returnes to the NHL ) he would be the best player is Atlanta !!

[mack 44]

I don't know, I think I saw Hossa block a shot on accident and that right there is more than anything Kovalchuk's done in his own end.

[lee92 2]

And that is why I will never respect him.  He is also lucky the 87 Canada cup happened because that is when Gretzky pulled him aside and tried to teach him some class and his obligation to the sport. He also taught Mario the payoffs of practicing.  Mario couldn't believe how Gretzky would stay on the ice after practice and what not.

So, Theo, I guess you have no respect for Mickey Mantle, also. Another natural talent who didn't give it everything he could?

Mario was about 21 when Canada Cup 87 happened, still a pretty young kid. Following that experience he did ratchet it up to another level. The Cup years were ahead of him. If you weren't on the ice or watching him practice, don't say he didn't work at his game. That is simply a statement you cannot back up.

Sorry,

I don't have respect for the most gifted player ever because he could have been so much more on and off the ice, but instead he was lazy and had horrible attitude until Gretzky rubbed off on him a little.

The fact is that I have watched more then enough docs on him to know this. Even his own sports century knocked him a little. I don't have to own a male dog to tell you that he has a set of cajones.

You know why his back went to hell? Because his garbage conditioning combined with his style of hunched play. But if he exercised and hit the weights, it would have never gotten that bad. The only reason he kicked it up another level after 87 is Gretzky. Mario said that he was amazed himself at how much Gretzky practiced and what he practiced.

The "I" first mentality that anyone under the sun could see in him also doesn't score points with me. Mario has always been all for himself. On Mantle, I don't follow baseball. But yeah, when you have natural gifts I see it as wrong to waste them or not use them to the fullest extent. Gretzky has said he wished he had Mario's skills. I love that statement because it is coming from the best ever and shows something.

i have a biography on mario, titled mario, and just love it. they said, or he said something in the books like "if you're golfing and are beating everyone by a couple strokes without practice, why practice?" it was something along those lines. he was one of the better players to ever play the game, but if he could get by in the league on natural talent and be sucessful, why bother practicing?

[Kovy_Ribs_Fedo 3]

why bother practicing!!!!!!!, you must be kidding, when you are there, you are supposed to love the game and be passionate by your sport and that's the way you become the best. That's what I like the most about Gretzky and what I hate about Lemieux.

[DarkStar50 679]

I will still take Mario right now, today on my team. Gretz put him on Team Canada at 60% for the Olympics in SLC.

Results are part of the picture and Mario has the stats to prove it. Just because Joe 3rd line practices like its Game 7, he will still be Joe 3rd line. So, Mario didn't use ALL of his God given talent. I guess we were just lucky to see the game he is willing to share with us.

I have watched NHL teams practice. We have had the Blues(with Hull, Turgeon, MacInnis, Pronger), Ducks(Kariya, Selanne), Av's(Sakic, Forsberg, Roy, Foote) in the building for practice. Some guys bust their butt and some guys don't. You would be surprised to find out who is the FIRST one off the ice!

[Kovy_Ribs_Fedo 3]

I know that Datsyuk, Sakic, Zetterberg are always staying after practice. I have seen Kovalev pratice and he's always working on his skills (stickhandling,shooting,etc...)

I know I'll get nailed by some of you, I don't care how much points Mario got but IMO, Mario was not that much skilled. He was/is an above average skater and stickhandler but not more than that. Where he was in front of everyone is mentally. He did not care of doing mistakes, he did not care of backchecking, he was playing his own game and no one was going to change him. Players like Fedorov, Kovalev, Samsononv, Kariya, Sakic, Kovalchuk, Datsyuk, Forsberg, Jagr, etc... are all guys that got way more skills than Mario IMO. I'll took them all before Mario in a 1 vs 1 matchup.

Mario got a great carreer because of his confidence and his size and certain talent but IMO not awesome skills.

[DarkStar50 679]

Kovy

Just a ? or two.How old are you? did you watch Mario play from day 1 in NHL to 96?

[DarkStar50 679]

Kovy,

Ok,so when Mario started you were born, 85 right? In 91 and 92, you were 6,7. Mario was at his peak and you were having a face-off in a mite game. Just having some fun with ya! Don't get bent. Just trying to make the point that I don't tell everyone the Habs from 55-60 weren't that great since there were only 6 teams then because I didn't know a hockey puck from a football when I was like 5 years old.

[Kovy_Ribs_Fedo 3]

Kovy

Just a ? or two.How old are you?  did you watch Mario play from day 1 in NHL to 96?

I watched like 15-20 of his old games in his prime with NHL network last year.

[DarkStar50 679]

15-20 games is like zero to judge a player and a career.

Kovy, would you be happy to have 1% of the skills that Mario has? I would.

[Kovy_Ribs_Fedo 3]

15-20 games is like zero to judge a player and a career.

Kovy, would you be happy to have 1% of the skills that Mario has? I would.

I wish you are kidding buddy?

[mack 44]

Damn, I didn't know we had Mario's father on the board. Awesome.

[DarkStar50 679]

Somebody has to pull for the old-timers!!

If you have watched a player's entire career from start to finish, feel free to make a definitive statement. However, just a few games does not make a career. Otherwise, Jim Carey (Net Detective) would be in the Hall of Fame for his hot start in Caps land. He would be next to Brian Boucher(he of five shut-out games in a row-he only won five more that entire season), for sure in the Hall.

hey, we are just having fun, right?

[Kovy_Ribs_Fedo 3]

Somebody has to pull for the old-timers!!

If you have watched a player's entire career from start to finish, feel free to make a definitive statement. However, just a few games does not make a career. Otherwise, Jim Carey (Net Detective) would be in the Hall of Fame for his hot start in Caps land. He would be next to Brian Boucher(he of five shut-out games in a row-he only won five more that entire season), for sure in the Hall.

hey, we are just having fun, right?

sure, it's my point of view and nothing more,

All the players in their prime (1 vs 1)

Kovalev vs Mario

Fedorov vs Mario

Kovalchuk (not in his prime yet) vs Mario

Mogilny vs Mario

Jagr vs Mario

Forsberg vs mario

Kariya vs Mario

Mario 0 vs Others 7 IMO

Sure hockey is not a 1 on 1 game but on a one on one it's pure skills game nothing else.

[mack 44]

Absolutely, but it just seemed like you got a little defencive with it. The numbers are there to defend how good/great Mario was, but the intangibles (like him apparently being a lazy sack of crap) will be open for interpretation. I can't say I take much away from Mario because of his work ethic because I had my times here I just went thru the motions. Then again, no one's out there wearing my jersey.

[McCabe#1 0]

Kovy,

You are fighting a losing battle with your comments about Lemieux. If that is your opinion that is fine, but I honestly have to say that is one of the dumbest things I have EVER heard. To say any of those players has more skill the Mario is ridiculous. Mario lived off of skill his first 10 years in the league. He might be THE most skilled player ever. You can have your opinion, but my opinion is thats it the craziest thing I have ever heard. Based solely on skill, Mario is the best ever. The reason many (not all) consider Gretzky the better player is because of his drive. Very few try to argue that Gretz had better skill.

[DarkStar50 679]

So, Mario is # 8 when measured against those players? And please don't bring up no work ethic for Mario and then put Mogilny on your list. Yeah, Alex could score but work ethic? I don't think so.